Regional Conference Details
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators presents
Agent Day with Literary Agent Mary Kole
Time: Saturday and Sunday, October 29–30, 2011
Place: Yokohama International School
Middle Building, Cafeteria
For access information and maps visit www.yis.ac.jp
Fee: Advance Registration 4,000 yen SCBWI members
7,000 yen nonmembers (reserve by Oct. 1, pay by Oct. 10)
At the door 5,000 yen SCBWI members
8,000 yen nonmembers
Reservations Required: To register visit www.scbwi.jp or email contact (at) scbwi (dot) jp
This event will be in English.
SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 29, 2011
9:00-10:00 Private Critiques (see below)
10:00-10:30 Registration, Announcements and Opening Remarks
10:30-12:00 Three Things That Separate Aspiring Writers from Published Authors
This presentation will offer an overview of the children's book market as it stands today and a discussion of three vital things that writers must add to their craft portfolio before they can write their breakout book.
Lunch Break Lunch will not be served. Please bring lunch or join other writers and illustrators at nearby cafés.
1:30-2:30 Slush Pile Secrets: How to Catch an Agent's Eye With Your Query
Queries intimidate a lot of writers, but it's easy to get to the top of a slush pile if you write a great one. This talk will feature query examples from the audience, go over common mistakes, and show you how to write a successful letter. (See below for details.)
3:00-4:00 First Pages Open Critiques
Writers and author/illustrators are invited to submit the beginning of a manuscript to be read and commented on by Mary Kole. Novels: up to 150 words. Picture books: up to 100 words/first three spreads for a dummy. (See below for details.)
4:15-5:00 Final Q&A Participants will have a chance to ask any remaining questions.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
10:00 am–1:00 pm Private Critiques (see below)
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First Pages and Queries First Pages and Queries will be discussed in open sessions listed above. To send First Pages and Queries, reserve early. First Pages and Queries must be received by October 1.
Private Critiques—Reserve Early! A limited number of private 15-minute critiques with Mary Kole will be available for illustration portfolios and manuscripts up to 2,500 words. Three slots are available Saturday, 9-10 a.m.; the remaining slots are on Sunday, 10 am to 1 pm. Manuscripts and payment for critiques must be received by October 1. Fee for critiques: SCBWI members 3,500 yen; nonmembers 4,000 yen.
Accommodation Hotels convenient to Yokohama International School include Star Hotel, Hotel Monterey Yokohama, Hotel New Grand, and Washington Hotel Sakuragicho.
Mary Kole is an associate agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She came to literature from a writer's perspective and started reading at ABLA to see what it was like "on the other side of the desk." She quickly found her passion there and officially joined the agency in August 2009. She has also worked at Chronicle Books and earned her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco. Mary represents picture books from authors and author/illustrators, and both middle-grade and young adult novels. She prefers upmarket premises with literary spark and commercial appeal and operates the Andrea Brown East office from Brooklyn, NY. Visit the Andrea Brown agency website at www.andreabrownlit.com and visit Kole’s own website http://kidlit.com